Monthly Archives: October 2011

Draft Minimum Internal Control Standards for Interactive Gaming Published in Nevada

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Bradley Vallerius| Leave a comment

Nevada’s Gaming Control Board has published its new proposed Minimum Internal Control Standards for Interactive Gaming.

The 29-page document contains rules covering:

            Information technology for interactive gaming

            Physical access and maintenance controls

            Network security

            Remote access

            System parameters

            Structure of information technology department

            User accounts

            Generic user accounts

            Service & default accounts

            Backup and recovery procedures

            Recordkeeping

            Electronic storage of documentation

            Production environment change control processes

            General operation of interactive gaming

            Casino account transfers

            Registering authorized players

            Identification and verification of authorized players

            Protection of the interactive gaming accounts

            Interactive gaming engaged between human individuals

            Responsible interactive gaming

            Protection of authorized players’ personally identifiable information

            Closed/inactive accounts

            Authorized player disputes

            Contests/tournaments

            Promotional/progressive pots and pools

            Authorized player promotional account

            Documentation

            Accounting/audit standards

The Gaming Control Board has invited interested parties to submit written comments, and it will host a public workshop meeting November 1, 2011 to discuss the draft rules.

To view the draft rules, click: Nevada Gaming Control Board Minimum Internal Control Standards for Interactive Gaming.

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House Subcommittee Hearing on Internet Gaming, Oct. 25, (Barton and Upton Present?)

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Bradley Vallerius| Leave a comment

Rep. Mary Bono Mack has given notice that her subcommittee will hold an informational hearing to cover internet gaming issues Tuesday, October 25.

Two very important lawmakers sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. One is Rep. Joe Barton—chief sponsor of H.R. 2366, the legislative proposal that would establish a system for licensing and regulating internet poker only.

The other is Rep. Fred Upton– who is both Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee which presides over Ms. Bono Mack’s subcommittee, as well as a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Supercommittee).

The hearing is entitled “Internet Gaming: Is there a Safe Bet?” and witnesses will appear by invitation only.

The subcommittee also has jurisdiction over H.R. 1174,  a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank which would license and regulate casino gaming as well as poker on the internet.

See Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade– “Internet Gaming: Is There a Safe Bet?”

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Nevada Meeting Nov. 1: Minimum Internal Control and Technical Standards

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Bradley Vallerius| Leave a comment

Nevada’s Gaming Control Board will host another public workshop meeting November 1, 2011.  The subject of the meeting will be the new drafts of proposed Minimum Internal Control Standards and Technical Standards for Interactive Gaming.

The Gaming Control Board says copies of the new drafts will be available on its website on or about October 20. Interested parties are invited to send written comments and to appear at the workshop.

See:

Nevada Gaming Control Board Notice to All Licensees and Interested Persons: Workshop for Minimum Internal Control and Technical Standards for Interactive Gaming (Oct. 14, 2011)

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Rep. Frank Asks Supercommittee to Approve H.R. 1174

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Bradley Vallerius| Leave a comment

U.S. Representative Barney Frank, the Democrats’ ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, has identified internet gambling regulation as one of eight policy options he would like the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to approve.

Frank writes in a letter to the supercommittee:

Enactment of the Campbell/Frank (H.R. 1174) bill and the companion McDermott (H.R. 2230) bill to license, regulate and tax internet gambling would raise revenue of up to $41.8 billion over ten years, according to JCT, which in the last Congress jointly scored their predecessor bills, H.R. 2267 and H.R. 2268. The measures would also create jobs in the gaming and related industries. An alternative bill introduced by Rep. Barton, which is limited to poker, has not been scored, but presumably would raise less revenue.

Rep. Frank also spoke to Politico recently. “Several of us are trying to get it into the supercommittee,” he says.

Frank is not the only ranking member of a committee to write to the Deficit Reduction Committee today. The Democrats’ ranking members of all 16 House committees have also released letters  identifying priority legislation.

See:

Letter from Ranking Member Barney Frank, House Committee on Financial Services (Oct. 13, 2011)

Politico: Online gambling backed by Barney Frank, Joe Barton (Oct. 12, 2011)

Press release: Pelosi Releases Democratic Ranking Members’ Recommendations to Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Oct. 13, 2011)

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California Online Poker Association (COPA) begins beta testing CalShark.com

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Bradley Vallerius| Leave a comment

The California Online Poker Association (COPA) has launched a play-for-fun poker network at CalShark.com.

COPA cannot operate real money wagering until after the state legislature enacts an enabling statute and a state regulatory agency adopts appropriate regulations. But until then CalShark should serve an important function in helping the organization prepare for legalized intrastate internet poker. Speficially, CalShark should provide opportunities to  establish a brand, build loyalty, register a player base to market to, and of course gain experience operating a poker platform.

COPA is a coalition of 29 card rooms and 31 Indian tribes in the State of California. By linking together to form a single poker network, coalition members will enjoy the benefit of aggregated player liquidity. The alliance also means members will not have to compete against each other for precious few operating licenses.

COPA first revealed its intent to prepare for legalized internet poker in June of 2011 when it signed software and services agreements with Playtech and SciPlay. The latter company is a relatively new joint venture between Playtech and Scientific Games.

For more details on the agreement, see: California’s tribes and poker rooms prepare for legalization (June 28, 2011).

See also the following article in The Sacramento Bee:  California tribes launch free poker sites (Oct. 11, 2011)

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Posted in Business News, California

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